Ruston Police arrested a woman Sunday after she allegedly stole a vehicle from a local church and was using it to transport drugs.
Brykeisa Tamara Richard, 33, of Garr Road, was arrested March 8 after a patrol officer spotted the missing vehicle on West Barnett Springs Avenue in Ruston.
Ruston Police received a call reporting the theft of a 2017 Chevrolet Express 2500 van. Police were told the vehicle was seen at 4 p.m. and when the complainant returned later in the evening, it was gone.
RPD searched through its license plate reader system and saw the van had recently traveled in southeast Ruston. Shortly thereafter, the officer taking the report saw a van matching the description traveling west on Barnett Springs Avenue. The officer turned around and followed the vehicle and saw the license plate matched the stolen vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on Snowden Street.
Richard, the driver, was taken into custody. She admitted to taking the van without permission. As she was exiting the vehicle, she attempted to remove a backpack and was asked to leave it. She admitted there was marijuana inside the backpack.
In searching the bag, officers found suspected methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana, and a smoking pipe commonly used to consume narcotics. A handgun was also recovered.
A records check showed Richard is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm. A second smoking pipe containing suspected drug residue was found on Richard.
Richard was booked for theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm by convicted felon, illegal carrying of a weapon, possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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